A cobfobation



March 29, M32 c. H. DAVIS, ET AL 393539557 C IRCUIT BREAKER Filed Jan.16, 1950 Patented Mar. 2a, 1932 @ENCE CHARLES HALL DAVIS, JR., ANDARNOLD E. RIGGS, F AJNDERSOIE'` INDIANA, .AS-

SIGNORS TO DELCO-REMY CORPORATION, 0F ANDERSON, INDIANA, A CORPORATIONOF DELAWARE CIRCUIT BREAKER Application filed January 16, 1930. SerialN0. 421,202.

This invention relates to periodic circuit closures and particularly totimers for ignition apparatus.

Among the objects of the invention is the provision of an ignition timerand circuit breaker mechanism which is novel in construction and thatmay be produced at a relatively low cost.

A further object of the invention is to prow vide a contact breakerassembly that will provide an arm of simple construction and eiiicientinoperation, yet of the least practical mass.

A further object of the invention is to pro- 15 Vide a circuit breakerassembly that will be efficient at high speed operation.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had 2o to theaccompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of thepresent invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: 1

Fig. l is a plan View of a timer embodying 25 the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of a circuit breaker lever assembly asindicated by the arrow 2 of Fig. 1, illustrating a fragmentary sectionthereof, as appears along the line 2- of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the circuit breaker lever assembly asappears in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the contact anchoring means, substantially asindicated by the line and arrows 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a modified Iorm.

Fig. 6 is av plan view of the same, as indi-l cated by the arrow 6 inFig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view substantially as indicated by the line andarrowsv 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Figs. 8 and 9 are detailed views of a means for securing a contact pointto the lever, substantially as indicated by the line and arrows 8-8 ofFig. 7, and 9 9 of Fig. 8 respectively.

Figs. 10 and 1l are. lan'and elevational views of a second modi cation,Fig. 11 being without material failure in operation. The

circuit breaker structures of ordinary design, that have been developedfor slower speed automotive engines, functions poorly or fail` tooperate at all,'when they are driven at the higher speeds demanded'bypresent day engineering. Some of these failures are due to sluggishnessin the operation of the circuit breaker lever, while some others are dueto rupture or breaking of thelever itself. After considerableexperimentation, the instant form of circuit breaker lever assembly hasbeen resorted to, since it has been found to operate efficiently over along period of time without the least indication of failure, and tofunction properly at both low and high speeds of operation.

With particular reference to the drawings, indicates a timer cupsupporting a breaker plate 21 by means of ears 22 attached to the wall20 by screws 23. The breaker plate 21 supports a contact breakerassembly bracket 24:, which is pivoted to a post 25 secured in the plate21, the plate 24 being adjustable about the pivot post 25 through theagency of a clamping screw 26 and eccentric 27. The bracket 2.4 providesan upstanding lug 28 to which is fixed a Contact point 29. A terminalpost 30 is insulatingly mounted in the wall of the cup 2O as by bushing31 and washer 32, the stud 30 terminating within the cup in a headk 33.

The circuit breaker lever assembly a() of the instant invention isillustrated in the preferred form by Figs. 1 to 4l inclusive, and isformed of a single strip of spring steel bent into formation to providethe structure illustrated. The assembly includesa spring portion ilproviding a terminating notch Li2 which is adapted to be secured beneaththe head 33 of the 'terminal stud just described. Joining the springportion Lil is a large loop 43 adapted vto embrace a dielectric bushingoi' sleeve 44,-and thencea reentrant curve or .bend 45 is formed, fromwhich extends a rigid portion 46 forming the circuit breaker lever towhich is attached a rubbing block 47 and a contact point 48, forcooperation. with the fixed contact 29 supported by the bracket 24. Theformation of the loop 43 being the intermediate portion between therigid member 46 and the spring portion 4l is sufliciently smaller indiameter than the bushing 44, that the bushing will be firmly retainedtherein while the assembly is in thefree position as illustrated in Fig.3.

In this ligure the -dotted line position is the actual free position ofthe formed assembly prior to insertion of the bushing 44, as illustratedin full line position. The reentrant bend resolves into the main flexingportion lof the assembly since most of the flexing of the lever assemblyis manifest at this point during operation. This in effect forms aliexing shank for the contact supporting arm.

The rigid portion 46 of the lever may be formed in various ways, as bytwisting the blank at the juncture of the loop 45 so that the arm willlie in a plane perpendicular to the plane that the body of the blankwould normally assume, or the blank may be doubly twisted and foldedtogether as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. That is, the body ofthe blank may be folded inwardly as at 49 and doubled along the medialline to form the parallelly extending portions 50 and 5l.

The rigid portion 46 of the member may be provided with deformations 52forming an anchorage for the rubbing block 47 and also may include thedeformations 53 which operate to reduce the mass of the member 4G. lnthe various forms illustrated, the deformations for securing the rubbingblock 47 have been illustrated differently, but either styleofideformation operates successfully in either instance for anchorage ofthe rubbing block. ln the form illustrated in Figs. 2

and 3 the deformations 52 constitute indentations in the body of the arm46, while in the form illustrated'in Figs.,6 and 7 the deformationsconstitute apertures through the body of the lever, but in both. eventsform meansto which the rubbing block 47 may be molded 4 securing it tothe lever member.Y However, a

machined rubbing block could readily be employed and attached to the armwith rivets, screws or other suitable means. In the present instance, Wepropose to mold the block about the arm or a portion thereof asindicated in Figs. 2, 3, 6 and 7.

' The extreme free end 55 of the arm 46 provides means for supportingthe contact point 48, as has been earlier stated, and it has been founddesirable to bend portions of the member into the oppositely extendingears or lugs 56 and 57 which provide a base to which the contact 48 maybe welded. ln

the form illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive, y

these ears are substantially semi-circular in form, while in the styleof lever illustrated in Figs. 5 to l1 inclusive, the lugs conformto theshape of quadrants of circles, but it is obvious that the same form oflug or ear or even different formsas square or triangular may be usedequally well with respect to either form of the breaker lever assembliesillustrated. It has been found that the form illustrated in Figs. 8 and9 is particularly well adapted for rmly securing the contact point inplace.

The form of breaker lever assembly illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, -isthat adapted to the double point ignition, that is, in which the circuitbreaker lever is designed to support a pair of contact point-s 48 incooperative engagement with as many fixed contacts 28,. This form isaccomplished by using a longer blank so that the lever portion 46 may belooped into the form illustrated in Fig. 11, with the extreme end 60being bent upon itself as illustrated, to overlie the main portion ofthe lever at the juncture of the rubbing block, both portions of theoverlapped lever being provided with the deformations 52 by which therubbing block 47 is anchored thereto.

In either form of the circuit breaker lever assembly adopted, thedeformations 53 may be provided,- or omitted, or if provided may bedisposed relative to the contact points and rubbing block so as' toaccomplish the results desired. That is, the' deformations may be placedon one side or-the other of the rubbing block 47, or they may be placedon both sides, or they may be omitted entirely. Whether or not they areadopted, and if-so adopted where they are to be placed, will bedetermined by the individual characteristics of the lever portion 4after formation into the assembly.

Applicants have found that for the weight of spring material, size ofthe blank, mass of contact point, and rubbing block that they have used,that the apertures or deformations 53 are preferably to be placed as hasbeen illustrated. By so positioning these deformations the inertia ofthe lever 46 is so little that the lever is readily responsive to theinfluence ofthe spring portion 41 when mounted within the timermechanism as illustrated, and yet the lever is of suicient rigidity, andthe inertia of the contact supporting portion 55 is not so great as tocause breaking of the contact points or ofthe arm, or even Whipping ofthe lever 46 when the same is operated at high speed.

The Contact breaker lever assembly is readily adapted for quickinsertion and removal from the timer housing 20, and contr1butes torapid change upon desire to repair illustrated in Fig. l, the contactpoint will be urged into engagement with the fixed contact 29 by thespring 41 through its reentrant loops 44 and 45 interinediate the springportion 41 and the rigid portion 46 which keeps the rubbing block 47 incooperable engagement With a timer cam 65, provided bya shaft 66 at theaxis of the timerhousing Q0. Electrical communication is made betweenthe Contact point 48 and the terminal post 30 by the lever and spring,the latter of which is secured beneath the screw head 3B, the dielectricbushing 44 of course insulatingly supporting the assembly on the post 25-as is the usual practice.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood thatother forms might be adopted, all coming Within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. A circuit breaker lever and spring assembly comprising, incombination, a strip or spring steel providing a spring leaf and beingbent to form a bearing adapted to be mounted on a pivot post,thence'provided with a reentrant bend and being twisted to term a rigidarm, a contact point and rubbing block each secured to said rigid arm.

2. A@breaker lever for an ignition timer comprising, in combination, aspring portion adapted 'to have its one end secured to a support, rigidportion formed integral with the other end of the flexible portion, arubbing block secured to the rigid portion, means formed between thespring and tbe rigid portions or pivotally supporting said lever andspring portion, the spring portion extending from the point or supportto the pivot portion, and a Contact supported by said rigid portion andbiased into cooperative engagement with a fixed contact by said springportion.

3./2. circuit breaker lever for an ignition timer comprising, incombination, a spring portion adapted to have its one end secured 'to asupport, a rigid portion formed integral with the other end of thespring portion, said integral formation including a clamping portionadapted to engage a dielectric bushing secured in said clamping portion.and a flexing portion, said rigid portion supporting a Contact point anda rubbing block, and being urged into actuating engagement with thetimer structure through said flexing portion, 4. fir breaker lever foran ignition timer comprising, in combination, a spring portion adaptedto have its one end secured to a support, and its other end Wrappedabout a pivot post and doubled over to form a rigid portion, said rigidportion supporting a contact point and a rubbing block.

5. An integrally formed circuit breaker lever and spring comprising aexible lpor- `entrant loops and adapted to engage a pivot tion adaptedto be secured to a support and having a part adapted to be placed aroundapivot post, and being thence twisted to form a rigid arm, said rigidarm supporting a contact point and a rubbing block.

6. An integrally formed circuit breaker lever and a spring comprising aflexible portion adapted to be secured to a support and having a partadapted to be placed around a pivot post, and being thence twisted toform a rigid arm', said rigid arm being provided With deformations, anda rubbing block of nonconducting material molded upon said arm aboutsaid deformations.

7. A circuit breaker lever and spring assembly formed from an integralblank comprising, in combination, a spring portion adapted to have itsone end secured to a support, an intermediate portion bent intoreentrant loops and adapted to engage a pivot bushing, and a rigidportion joining said intermediate portion and adapted to support acontact point and a rubbing block, said rigid portion being formed bytwisting a portion of the blank into a plane transverse to the ieXibleportion.

8. A. circuit breaker lever and spring assembly formed from an integralblank comprising, in combination, a spring portion adapted to have itsone end secured to a support, an intermediate portion bent intoreentrant loops and adapted to engage a pivot bushing, and a rigidportion joining said intermediate portion,'and adapted to support aContact point and a rubbing block, said rigid portion being f'ormed bytwisting and folding portions of said blank into a plane substantiallyperpendicular to a plane of said spring portion.

9. A circuit breaker lever and spring assembly formed from an integralblank comprising, in combination, a spring portion adapted to have itsone end secured to a support, an intermediate portion bent intoreentrant loops and adapted to engage a pivot bushing, and a rigidportion joining said intermediate portion and adapted to support acontact point and a rubbing block, said rigid portion being formed bydoubling a portion of the blank along the medial axis thereof.

l0. A. circuit breaker lever and spring assembly formed from an integralblank comprising, in combination a spring portion adapted to have itsone end secured to a supi port, an intermediate portion bent intorebushing, and a rigid portion joining said i termediate portion andadapted to support a contact point and a rubbing block, said rigidportion being provided with deformations and having the rubbing blockmoldably secured thereabout.

il. fr circuit breaker lever assembiy of spring steel wrapped about apivot post provide a. flexing shank and terminating in a springportion'secured'to a terminal post, a portion of'said steel'being foldedover the longer axis to form a rigid member, portions of said foldedportion providing ears and a contact point secured to said ears.

l2. In a timer the combination comprisin a. circuit breaker lever and arubbing bloc ,of dielectric material moldably secured there- 13. Inatimer the combination comprising, a circuit breaker lever and a rubbingblock of dielectric material, said i lever providing deformations,'andsaid rubbing block being molded on said lever to embrace saiddeformations.

14. In a timer, the combination comprising, a circuit breaker leverproviding deformations, some of which tend 'to reduce the mass of saidbreaker lever, a rubbing block of dielectric material molded upon saidlever to embrace others of said deformations, and a Contact pointsupported by said lever.

15. "A breaker lever' and spring assembly for. an ignition timercomprising, a strip of resilient metal bent to form a spring portionadapted to have its one end secured to a support'and bent to form arigid portion supporting a Contact point and a rubbing block and bent-to form an intermediate portion embracing a pivot post for said rigidportion, and a flexing shank for said rigid portion.

16. A circuit breaker lever comprising a bearing portion, a bar portionextending from the bearing portion and providing two ears extendingoppositely from the bar, a

. contact disc secured to both said ears, and

a rubbing block attached to the bar.

17. A circuit breaker lever comprising a bearing portion, a bar portionincluding two juxtaposed plates extending from the bearing portion, eachpla-te terminating in an ear,

the two ears extending oppositely from the bar, a contact disc securedto both said ears, and a rubbing block attached to thebar.

18. A circuit breaker lever comprising a, bearing portion, 'a barportion includin two ears, and a rubbing block attached to both platesof the bar.

In testimony whereof we hereto aiix ou f signatures.

CHARLES HALL DAVIS, JR. ARNOLD E. RIGGS.

Juxtaposed plates extending from the ear` ing portion, each plateterminating in an ear, the two ears extending oppositely from .the'-bar, a Contact disc secured'to both said

